There are currently 10 routes in the state of Pennsylvania, seven of which are Fullington, with three routes by Greyhound, he said.

“We have been working with Rabbit Transit and Penn Department of Transportation (PennDOT) since 2022,” he said. “We are going into a new contract with the State of Pennsylvania Inner City Bus (ICB) routes on April 1.”

“Our line runs start out of State College and Williamsport. The State College line goes to Wilkes-Barre, and then one that goes to Dubois, to Pittsburgh and then back,” Springer said. “The one that starts out Dubois goes to Buffalo, New York. For the State of Pennsylvania, we stop at St. Mary’s, right at the border the State of Pennsylvania-which the State concerns themselves with.” Surprisingly, Springer stated this ride to Buffalo is approximately only four hours. And then, of course “there is the bus back and forth to New York City, which goes to Allentown, then Newark, then New York City.”

Fullington Trailways wants to connect people from all over and integrate with other methods of travel.

“We have had a big focus with the airports the last year,” he said. “We have always had the Pittsburgh Airport but now we have added the Harrisburg Airport, twice a day. And we also do the Williamsport Airport which does commuter flights. We are in talks to add the Wilkes-Barre Airport and possibly, a little less formal- Lehigh Valley.”

The Fullington Trailways also goes into Center City, 30th Street Amtrak Station in Philadelphia. In addition, with the Airports, Fullington is trying to tie in as many Amtrak Stations as they can in the State of Pennsylvania.

“Between airports, bus, trains local transit authorities we are trying to get people from doorstep to doorstep,” Springer said. “We may not be the last trip, but we will be part of it.”

Fullington Trailways gets people to Harrisburg International Airport, which flies about “anywhere one wants to go and out of the country.” Riders can also always take transportation from Harrisburg via Greyhound to Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.. Also, from 30th Street, Amtrak trains go to Washington DC and Miami, Florida.

When it comes to travel to New York City, Fullington Trailways will be adjusting the schedule.

“Our State College to Wilkes-Barre line run-stops here at this terminal (Williamsport) twice a day — 11:30 a.m. and get back at 3 p.m., which unfortunately, we do not tie in the New York City Bus — it has already left.” Springer said. To address this issue, “we are adjusting the new schedule to leave earlier at 1 p.m. and the bus that goes to Wilkes-Barre will be backing up from 9 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. Then, the buses will be able to meet and people from Wilkes-Barre and Scranton area will be able to come here to go to New York City. Although, they are coming backwards to go forwards at this time, we will get them there.”

The focus of the Inner City Bus lines is to help under-served rural communities and smaller towns which do not have access to major transportation, by connecting them to access to these services across Pennsylvania. Fullington Trailways has a large ridership between Philadelphia to Allentown and New York to Easton and vice versa. Springer mentioned they stop at smaller towns like Jim Thorpe, Danville and Lewisburg.

Fullington Trailways is confronted by one challenge many industries face — shortages in the workforce.

“Drivers are always needed,” Springer said. “Despite small issues, ridership is increasing since 2020 even though COVID has put a damper on things. … Public Transportation in Europe does not have a negative connotation. People in the United States don’t feel that way. Hopefully, it will be changing.”

Springer noted when people want a direct route, they can always do a private charter.

“There are multiple reasons some people must use our transportation, some people just hate to drive into the city — which I totally get,” he said.

Springer said they stop at Danville, which of course has the Geisinger Medical Center, and they do Individual Expresses out of State College to Long Island usually for Spring Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas and other extensive breaks for the students.

Springer said Fullington Trailways has about 72 buses, seven line runs which has about 10 buses dedicated to it.

“To New York City there is one bus which stays overnight, so there is always one coming in and one going out,” he added. “Two buses for one run.We want to do everything we can for people to meet times!”

Fullington Trailways also is a “national service which goes from Florida to Canada and as far West as Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and to Ohio. We are willing to travel wherever people need us! We also had a meeting with a State representative and Lackawanna County recently.”

Springer said they really are providing service and are not in competition. Fullington is owned by Michael Fullington since 2017 but started in 1908. The runs are subsidized. They will continue talks with Rabbit Transit once a month and continue team effort to help the public.

Springer said he used to bring his son to Little League when he was younger and took over the Fullington runs around 2017.